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journalists and communicators continue to emerge from the University of Houston’s
Jack J. Valenti School of Communication (JJVSoC). Its illustrious alumni
includes Dominique Sachse (KPRC NBC Channel 2), Mike Barajas (News92 FM),
Cynthia Cisneros (KTRK ABC Channel 13), Peter Roussel (former press secretary
to President George H.W. Bush), Walter Coblenz (filmmaker) and of course, the
school’s namesake (former press secretary to President Lyndon Baines Johnson
and head of the Motion Picture Association of America).

Thanks
to a $1.5 million gift from another alum Lance Funston, the school is now
better equipped to groom future filmmakers and broadcast professionals. Funston’s
gift helped expand JJVSoC’s studios and video editing bays, and created new
classroom spaces.

“Our
new facilities have really pulled up our game,” said Randy Polk, media
production clinical professor. “We’re able to compete on almost a professional
level making things look really, really good. And the material they make here
can look as good as anything that any local news channel is putting out on its
broadcasts.”

While
new technology and expanded space are benefitting JJVSoC students, they
especially benefit from its experienced faculty. Professors include media veterans and
award-winning scholars and researchers. These pros deliver both classroom
lessons and practical advice to be applied in any industry.

“We’re
getting to hear from people who succeeded but telling you that it takes the
beginning stages to fall down a few times,” said media production student Vinson Valdez. “That’s what pretty much helps me.”